Media Releases

MEDIA RELEASE FROM NIMBIN HEMP EMBASSY

Nimbin will celebrate Canada’s re-legalisation of Cannabis next Wednesday October 17 and the crowd will no doubt over flow the Embassy’s tiny HEMP Bar.

“It’s definitely a moment to celebrate,” says Michael Balderstone, President of Nimbins HEMP Embassy and Australias HEMP Party. “The wall of weed prohibition is crumbling brick by brick at the moment and the change in Canada is significant for us as a fellow Commonwealth country. Also New Zealand is on the front foot of a change, showing up our Aussie politicians and police we reckon.”

“While arrest rates for Cannabis in Australia are still going north, in NZ their police appear to have decided, ‘it is not in the public interest to prosecute personal use of Cannabis’, and accordingly arrest rates there have plummeted to about half what they were.”

In Canada from Wednesday adults will be able to possess up to thirty grams of legal weed and share it with their friends. Each household will be allowed to grow four plants.

Currently about 15 percent of the population already smoke and legalization is expected to boost the economy by about one billion dollars in the fourth quarter.

Regulations and licences to grow and supply are still finding their way. Edibles for now can only be made at home and will not be allowed in dispensary’s for another year. 2000 police are being trained to recognise drug affected drivers.

Federal police will be ordered to abstain for 28 days before working, as will police in Toronto, yet officers in Montreal are just asked to not show up for work stoned.

The celebrations in Nimbin are expected to go all day and the Big Joint will be inflated early but at 4.20 we’re hoping some Polite Mounties will be riding in with a special maple syrup cake.

Anyone who thinks it’s time for Australia to join the change in attitude towards Cannabis users is very welcome at the ‘re-legalise’ party.

MEDIA RELEASE NIMBIN HEMP EMBASSY

MEDICAL CANNABIS WORKSHOP WEEKEND IN NIMBIN OCTOBER 20th & 21st

Medican weekend will be held a few days after Canada officially re-legalises Cannabis next week on October 18th. HEMP Embassy President Michael Balderstone says some Embassy members have just returned from Vancouver and will be speaking about the changes.

“It sounds good but in fact is upsetting a lot of people over there with strict new regulations and increased penalties for anyone breaking the rules. And now the big debate is about drug driver testing which has not been an issue before. We naively thought regulations would be fair and just but they’re being made by straights who’ve never had a toke in their life!”

Meanwhile in Australia enquiries continue to grow about using Cannabis as medicine and the pressure is now on politicians to keep up with the publics change of heart on this herb that has never killed anyone, ever. Everyone is welcome to this weekend where all your questions can be answered by people with decades of experience.

We welcome back to this Medican Australia’s Dr Pot, Dr Andrew Katelaris, who will be speaking again after spending another four months in jail. He’s urging people who can to come and support him in Sydney when he will be in the Downing Centre District Court in a few weeks. The charges are production and supply of a large commercial quantity of cannabis and if convicted the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

However, Dr Katelaris intends to run “the first successful medical necessity defence to be heard in the penal colony of NSW.”

Most medical cannabis activists who are arrested enter a plea of guilty with extenuating circumstances and often receive a mild penalty, but this provides no impetus for law change.

The battle lines on medical cannabis are now clearly drawn he believes. The government intends to replace a legal prohibition with a medical prohibition, where are a small number of selected practitioners act as gate keepers, providing medical cannabis to those with intractable illnesses only after all allopathic treatments have been tried. Further, the TGA approved medicine costs more than the current black market price. In an act of malice directed at the most vulnerable group in our society the police are giving no exemptions for medically prescribed cannabis when detected by roadside testing.

On November 5th, he would appreciate a show of public support, with as many people as possible attending the court to send a clear message to this government that it is totally unacceptable to play politics with people’s lives and put pharmaceutical profits before health and well being.

Also speaking at the workshop is Dr Deb Waldron from Queensland who has been researching the medicinal properties of Cannabis for more than thirty years and is now studying herbalism.

Malcolm Lee, a healer who has had a similar time studying the healing benefits of pot and has some extraordinary tales to tell.

CBD Luke will be talking on Sunday only, about isolates versus whole plant extraction, clinical trials and the recent documentary movies about medical cannabis he has been involved in.

Radic Al who grew up in a herbalists household will demonstrate herbal extraction methods.

Rayman who saved her life with raw Cannabis juice and Simmo will demonstrate hemp seed oil extraction and speak of it’s extraordinary health benefits.

Not to be confused with Dr Pot, Andrew Kavasilas will be talking at the Medican each day about ongoing lobbying and advocacy in the face of the incredible push back and double speak by politicians and public servants. As well as an update from a recent meeting in the Victorian Parliament where high profile activists are seeking to address numerous State, Federal and international impediments to medical Cannabis worldwide, including saliva drug testing in Australia. Andrew will also speak about his new company Cann Global Limited and it’s endeavours as a leading Hemp seed food and medical Cannabis company. He stands by the fact that “no government in the world has willingly introduced a meaningful medical Cannabis regime”.

There will be medical Cannabis users telling their stories at the weekend and we expect local Green political candidate Sue Higginson will drop in on Saturday. We may even have a guest appearance from local social commentator, comedian and legendary HEMP Olympix official, S Sorrensen. And to top it all The Hemp Club will be displaying and modelling handwoven hemp clothing you cannot find anywhere else on Earth.

All speakers except Steve and Luke will be there on both days and talks start at 11am and aim to finish by 4.20pm, at the Bush Theatre by Mulgum Creek in the old butter factory on the north side of Nimbin. Everyone is welcome, donations greatly appreciated. Excellent food will be available at the on site Phoenix Rising Cafe.

Anyone using medical cannabis who would like to tell their story on the day should contact the HEMP Embassy…. phone 02 66891842 or email head@hempembassy.net or talk to Michael on the day.

Next weekend’s Medical Cannabis workshop at the Bush Theatre in Nimbin has a line up of impressive speakers. “We’re only doing a few of these popular workshops a year now and I urge anyone wanting to learn about what’s going on in the fast emerging new age world of medical Cannabis to try and come along,” says Michael Balderstone, President of Nimbin’s HEMP Embassy who is hosting the event.

Guest speakers include Michael Stoopman who has an extra ordinary tale to tell re healing a massive tumour on his neck. Diagnosed with a common form of skin cancer in 2014, a squamous cell carcinoma, that progressed into his carotid artery which started to bleed out in May 2016, he was given minutes to hours to live. Put on 520mg of morphine to ease his passing however after nearly a month in hospital he was discharged but then had an opioid addiction. He researched medicinal cannabis which fixed his cancer in 5 months and it then took 7 months to get rid of his morphine addiction. Since then he’s been helping people get over serious illness with his basic knowledge of the endocannabinoid system.

Michael will be speaking on Saturday, and hopefully Sunday, as will legendary medical Cannabis grower and maker Malcolm Lee, who was told by a judge recently he is an ideal person to be given a producer’s licence because of his expert knowledge of the plant. Livewire Dr Deb Waldron will be also speaking both days. An extraordinary Queensland healer who is now studying herbalism to bolster her pharmaceutical training she is an extremely popular and witty talker.

Local Solicitor Steve Bolt will speak on Saturday only with the latest legal advice for Cannabis users, especially on roadside drug testing. Also there for the weekend will be long time herbalist and healer Radic Al, members of the The Hemp Club demonstrating hemp seed oil extraction and explaining why we should all be on a daily dose of the highly nutritious wonder food now legal.

Rayman is coming from Taree to speak on how she saved her life with raw Cannabis juice. Naturopath Zane Archer will speak on his latest understandings including hemp plasma therapy. Andrew Kavasilas on the latest from the Governments struggle to introduce the law changes so urgently needed. B J Futter from the Church of Ubuntu healing centre in Newcastle and a handful of other speakers to share their experiences using or making the medicine which has now gone mainstream in America as Time Magazine just told us on their cover.

Both days, Sat 23 June and Sun 24 June, start at 11 am at the Bush Theatre by Mulgum Creek in the old butter factory on the north side of Nimbin. Everyone is welcome and donations greatly appreciated. Excellent food will be available at the Phoenix Rising cafe.

The next Medican Workshops will be on the weekend of October 20/21 and then January 19/20, 2019.

MEDIA RELEASE April 17 2018

NIMBINS 26th MARDIGRASS. A Celebration, Almost!

Organisers of Nimbins 26th annual MardiGrass on the weekend of May 4 – 6, say there is plenty of interest now the law is finally in question. “It looks like the argument is pretty much over as to whether Cannabis is a medicine or not, it’s just about who gets to make all the money from it now,” says Michael Balderstone, president of Nimbins HEMP Embassy, chief sponsor of the annual Cannabis law reform protest and gathering.

“There is a lot of passion this year as Cannabis has been in the news so much and more and more of the general population has woken up to what a good medicine the plant is and how we have been lied to.”

This year is being seen as the beginning of the end of Cannabis prohibition despite the fact that there is no sign of the arrest rate dropping, in fact the opposite. “The hour before dawn is the darkest,” says Michael. “The truth can’t be hidden much longer and we have a handful of speakers travelling from North America to tell us how legal weed is working over there.”

New high lights in this years crammed program include a Cannabis Hypothetical putting a panel of ten politicians, doctors, lawyers, healers and patients on the spot. The quick witted Queenslander Dr Deb Waldren will wear Geoffrey Robertsons shoes.

A Grassroots market in the Nimbin Community Centre that will be a meeting place for local visionaries to showcase the rich and diverse range of alternative and sustainable ways of existing on this planet.

It’s the 45th anniversary of the legendary Aquarius Festival and the dream still lives on as does the music and to celebrate on Sunday there is the Billy Cliffs Aquarius Legends dress up competition which has already attracted a dozen entries. So far Bob Dylans will vie for the prizes with two Neil Youngs, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa and John Lennon etc.

“We’re encouraging everyone to dress up and celebrate this year the beginning of the end of us being criminals for using pot,” says Michael. “We’ve decided to even bypass going to the copshop in this years Rally on Sunday, thinking they are victims now more than ever of the politicians war on weed. The real enemy is greed and those who profit from prohibition. The pharmaceutical industry obviously are the primary demons, but privatised jails, organised crime, the alcohol industry, the Church perhaps, the police union keeping the power and jobs. There are many opponents who are happy to profit from peoples pain.”

The nimbinmardigrass.com program is still growing but all the usual favourites are in place like the Hemp Olympix, the Hemposium, the Kombi Konvoy and Saturday 420 with the Big Joint and the Ganja Faeries. Five stages of speakers and music ensures there will be something for everyone at this once a year gathering of all things Cannabis related.

The MardiGrass mood will get a kickstart next Friday at the 420 Celebrations in Nimbin with Sarah Stando, Kobya and Johnny Ganja singing in the ceremony in the village centre followed by Diana Anaid launching her new album at the Bush Theatre in the evening.

And on Tuesday May 1st at one pm we will do the now traditional Mayday March from the Lismore Court House to local MP Thomas Georges office.

Nimbin’s HEMP Embassy is once again sending its giant inflatable mascots, the Big Joint and the LGTB (Lovely Giant Tincture Bottle), to Canberra for the first day of parliament, Monday February 5th.

“We welcome anyone who is sick and tired of the ridiculous restrictions on Cannabis use to join us,” says president Michael Balderstone. “We’ve been saying for decades this is a miracle medicine, and now the evidence is in, but we are hunted the same as ever. Something has to change, and soon.”

“Our Health Minister Hunt keeps saying it’s legal but the truth is that only applies to people on their death bed – if they’re lucky! How about we try using cannabis before that point? Why don’t we take notice of California and what’s happened there over the last 20 years?”

“We will not let up on this serious injustice that is based on lies and misinformation which the powers that be NOW KNOW! The results from legalising cannabis in some American states cannot be ignored forever and in every case they point to a win win for everyone. Except the pharmaceutical industry!”

For more information contact the HEMP Embassy 02 66 891842 or Michael 0472760236

Dr Pot has been to virtually every past MEDICAN Workshop but will not be here this time as he is in jail. However, several other doctors will be, and so will some expert medicine makers from America. Three Aussies who have spent years in California learning the art of extracting the medicinal oil from the Cannabis plant will demonstrate (with legal herbs) and talk about their experiences in the legal medical Cannabis world of North America over both days this coming weekend. Everyone who is keenly interested in this subject is urged to attend as it’s a rare opportunity for first hand conversation on a new science that is fast changing the face of health in some American states.

“I am totally confident that if they re-legalise Cannabis there will be massive health savings in the future. Especially if they allow people to grow their own medicine, “says MC Michael Balderstone, President of the Embassy and Australian HEMP Party.

Also speaking on Saturday is Dr Deb Waldren from Queensland and Dr Teresa Towpik author of a new book, “Introduction to Medicinal Cannabis…An Easy Guide for Doctors and Patients”. CBD Luke is a special guest to fill us in on the latest from that realm and Steve Bolt is returning by popular demand with legal advice on using medical Cannabis in today’s uncertain climate.

The doctors and medicine makers will be there again on Sunday and joined by Rayman who will talk about the extraordinary healing power of juicing with raw cannabis. Radic Al will be there both days as will Andrew Kavasilas to fill us in on the latest from the Government on how they are working out their embarrassment at criminalising us for so long. Hopefully!

“California’s full legalisation on New Years day has the pot community buzzing,” says Michael. “Optimism is in the air despite Mr Hunt keeping on telling us medical cannabis is now legal here. It’s not really. That’s just technical political bullshit. It’s legal for the very few who get specialist approval and have a terminal illness and can find a doctor to support them. There are a lot of very difficult hoops to jump through and few have managed to do it.”

Makers or users of medical cannabis who wish to share their stories are welcome to speak at the Workshop. Just turn up or email head@hempembassy.net

Dr Pot, Andrew Katelaris, is in jail and might be for the next year or so. He was arrested on December 5 and refused bail because in the past he had refused to not continue helping people with Cannabis, especially epileptic children. He has numerous Cannabis charges after exposing his life on a television program. His court hearing is set down for November 5 and he has a bail hearing on January 24 which may save him from the long wait.

Over decades he has been helping countless people stay alive and minimise their suffering. Andrew has been to pretty much every MardiGrass in 25 years and every Medican Workshop in Nimbin. He makes himself available to whoever, whenever.

Another big crowd is expected for the Nimbin HEMP Embassy’s next MEDICAN Workshop on Saturday November 11, from 11 am by the river at the Bush Theatre in the old Nimbin butter factory. “These gatherings are important and mostly about education”, says Embassy president Michael Balderstone. “The workshop is a good opportunity to ask questions and meet people who have been involved with Mediweed for decades.”

Drs Andrew Katelaris and Deb Waldren will be there as well as many other healers and people who are using Cannabis to treat themselves. Be it epilepsy or cancer or Parkinsons it is super encouraging for sufferers to meet and talk to others with similar conditions.

Meryl Dorey is a special guest speaker this time. She has been an outspoken sceptic about Australia’s immunisation program and many of us have met children using cannabis after they started having seizures following their needles.

CBD Luke will be here again to teach us more about that specific cannabinoid and Radic Al will be teaching extraction methods. The Phoenix Rising Cafe will be open early for breakfast by Mulgum Creek at the venue.

The medical cannabis movement has been ridiculed for a long time, like many other Nimbinesque ideas. Finally the evidence is appearing that shows hippies weren’t deluded after all! Anyone is welcome to this day of talks and discussion and entry is by donation only.

And anyone who would like to share their experience can contact the Embassy email…. head@hempembassy.net For more info call the Embassy on 0266890326

Nimbin’s HEMP Embassy has organised another of its popular Medical Cannabis Workshops for Saturday August 5 at the Bush Theatre, beside the river on the northern edge of the village. From 11 am until about 4.20 pm and everyone is welcome, as are donations.

“We’re only doing them every few months now,” said President Michael Balderstone. “This is the first one since MardiGrass and we expect a big crowd. Word of mouth and the Government telling people it’s now legal has caused an explosion of interest in the last year,” he says.

“The ridiculous hoops the state and federal governments are asking doctors to jump through are stopping it happening legally on any scale but that doesn’t stop people seeking it out on the black market.”

“It’s tragic the authorities can’t see their way to calling some sort of amnesty on genuine medical cannabis suppliers who are risking so much every day now across the country. The evidence is overwhelming but still Big Pharma, who runs the show, insist on pot doing their double blind placebo trials. Anything to hold it back. Epileptic children on placebos is about as sick as it gets, with every seizure doing brain damage.”

Special guest this time is Carol Ireland, CEO of Epilepsy Action Australia and a member of the Federal Government’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Council. We also hope to have a panel of parents of children with epilepsy using Cannabis though understand their fear in coming forward.

Other speakers include Dr Deb Waldren on healing with Cannabis; Michael Stoopman and CBD Luke on extraordinary tumour healing; Zane Archer on the importance of nutrition; Andrew Kavasilas on the latest from the government’s dilemma; Toney Fitzgerald on treating his cancer; Weeded Warriors on PTSD; Radic Al on how to make it. MC Michael Balderstone.

We also expect Australian pioneers in treating epilepsy with cannabis, Dr Andrew Katelaris and Tony Bower from Mullaways to come as well so it will be a big day.

Anyone who wishes to talk and share their experience please come along or contact the HEMP Embassy….ph 0266891842 email head@hempembassy.net

The tiny one pub village of Nimbin is gearing up for it’s 25th annual MardiGrass on the May 5, 6, 7 weekend. Australia’s biggest gathering of Cannabis users protesting for the re-legalisation of their herbal medicine is expected to be especially passionate this year.

“Australia’s Cannabis users feel ripped off big time,” says Michael Balderstone, smokesperson for the organisers. “Our village has been hammered by the police this year like never before, and it coincides with endless announcements from our politicians telling us at last they agree the plant is medicinal and they’re legalising it.”

“Well, clearly not for us in Nimbin and neither has anything changed for 99% of the country’s users which is seriously unfair. I actually think the hippies and Cannabis users of Australia are owed a giant apology. Trials are underway for epileptic children and some terminal patients but freedom to use this medicine of old is as distant as ever.”

“Everyone now knows carrying and using bulky and smelly Cannabis is the easy bust for police with their saliva testing, sniffer dogs and sophisticated technology. Hunting stoners has dramatically changed the country’s drug culture and it’s no wonder we have an ice problem.”

The 25th MardiGrass begins in a way on Monday in Lismore with a Mayday March from the Lismore Court House in Zadoc Street to local MP Thomas Georges office. Protestors are expected to gather from Midday at the Court house.

“And from then on we’ll be setting up the venue for the big protest weekend,” said Balderstone. “Guest speakers are flying in from Canada and America and every aspect of ‘the plant with a million uses’ will be discussed over and over.”

“The usual highlights are on track, the HEMP Olympix, Hemposium, Kombi Konvoy, 420 Blaze, Pot Art and Poetry, Sunday’s Rally and Parade, four stages, Stoned Chess, Weed Laughs, and so on, but several new events also.”

“The Hillsong SKIP on the big hemp rope to celebrate the end of a NSW Police Commissioners era which showed no understanding of or compassion for drug users. This event promises a gold medal for the last man and woman standing. While other country’s are having success in every way regulating, taxing and legalising Cannabis, here in NSW we’re spending a billion dollars on new jails every year for the next four in this state thanks to our recently departed leaders.”

Tickets and the very full program still growing is on www.nimbinmardigrass.com and printed copies are being distributed on the north coast today and tomorrow, look out for one.

I believe the best thing you can do to help bring about change in the Government’s attitude towards Cannabis use, is to make an appointment with your local Members of Parliament, both State and Federal.

Talk to them about your experience and understanding of Cannabis and its prohibition. How much it costs you, how it helps you and the impact prohibition is having and has had on your life.

And if you are helping someone who is seriously ill, try and take them along. Seeing is believing and politicians have so much reading to do and information to take in, we think personal conversations will have much more impact in educating them.

This is perhaps the best foil against the constant lobbying and small fortune spent by the pharmaceutical industry to try and keep Cannabis out of the public’s hands. Big Pharma really does fear huge profit losses if this herb, that has never killed anyone, escapes into our home gardens.

Michael BalderstoneNimbin Hemp Embassy
President HEMP Party of Australia